Cactus cruciformis
Fl. Flumin. Icon. 5: t. 29. 1831. [1825 publ. 7 Sep-28 Nov 1829] ; see also Fl. Flumin. Icon. 5: t. 29. 1831. [1827 publ. 29 Oct 1831]
Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Species
Cactus cruciformis
Author
Vell.
Chinese genus
-
Chinese name
-
Primary
Accepted
DescriptionEdit description
Leaves
Broad, acuminate.
Seeds
Light brown to black, 1.8 mm long.
Description
Lepismium cruciformeSN|8388]]SN|8388]] is a saxicolous or epiphytic cactus semierect or creeping over rocks. The stems segments of which freely rooting, appressed, somewhat branching and turning magenta in summer given adequate light. Plants produce diminutive white or pink flowers followed by beadlike, purple-pink fruit. Lepismium cruciformeSN|8388]]SN|8388]] is variable and a number of varieties have been proposed.
Stem Segments
Foliaceous (leaf-like), extremely variable, sometimes 3, 4, or even 5-angled, or flat, linear-lanceolate, to 50 cm long, 2 cm broad, more or less winged, narrowed at base, more or less purplish, especially on edges. Margins distinctly notched.
Flowers
Borne laterally 2 to 5 or even more from an areole. White, cream, yellow, pink, or rarely magenta, reddish-brown on the uotside, 10 to 13 mm Long. Perianth-segments united at base into a short tube. Filaments slender, adnate to flower-tube. Stigma-lobes 4 or 5.
Spines
Absent or nearly so.
Fruits
Globular, juicy, purplish to red, smooth, turgid, translucent, 6 to 12 mm in diameter.
Areoles
Subtended by miniscule scales,sunken in the crenation in the margins, with tufts of white wool.